Gary schools CFO Moody is out, new hire’s coming
Leonard Moody, the chief financial officer for the Gary Community School Corp. since 2017, no longer is with the state-controlled school district.
“He resigned his position,” Gary schools emergency manager Peter Morikis said after Tuesday’s school board meeting. He declined further comment.
Reached Wednesday, Moody also declined to comment.
Compensation for a new chief financial officer for Gary is on the state Distressed Unit Appeal Board’s agenda for its 9 a.m. Thursday meeting in Indianapolis.
School board President Robert Buggs criticized Moody’s departure during Tuesday’s public meeting.
“I’m told his employment status can’t be discussed, but Mr. Moody said it’s OK,” Buggs told the audience.
“There were two people of color, and now he’s gone,” Buggs said of the district’s top tier of administrators. “I know he’s competent.”
Moody, a former internal auditor for the Chicago Public Schools, was hired in late 2017 by former emergency manager Peggy Hinckley. The state approved his salary at $100,000 annually.
Hinckley said Moody was one of 31 applicants.
Buggs said personnel matters shouldn’t be kept under wraps.
“To parents, bring issues with personnel to us and we will air them publicly, you have a right to get an answer,” Buggs said.
He also reasoned the school board wasn’t subject to the state’s Open Door Law, which covers government meetings and access to public records.
“This advisory committee didn’t come with any instructions. We’ll move forward as we see fit,” Buggs said.
Recent state laws took power away from the Gary School Board, relegating it as an advisory body with no governing authority. The board is allowed to meet just four times a year and receives no pay.
During last year’s general election, three board members opted not to run. The remaining board members replaced them Tuesday with Mary Ann Canty-Reedus, 6th; Serita Jackson, 3rd; and Larona Carter, 5th.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.